People

Beyond Karting with Yana Kapoor

Jacy Zeigler

May 21, 2026

8 min read

What started as her brother’s interest gradually became her own, leading Yana Kapoor down a path she never quite expected. Fueled by passion, ambition, and the pursuit of her future, Yana’s racing career is only just beginning as she continues to leave her mark within the male-dominated sport.

The rear of an open-wheel race car with a large rear wing and exposed engine is parked inside a garage, facing an open paddock area with a trailer and canopy outside. Photo by Lee Keiper

Last year, during our member track day at the Sonoma Raceway, Le Pit Club toured the World Speed Motorsports (WSM) workshop. While there, I met racing driver Yashom Kapoor, who let me know that his sister was competing just down the road at the karting track. That was when I met 18-year-old racing driver Yana Kapoor and first began to learn about her incredible story in motorsports.

A person stands on a racetrack in a black, white, and red racing suit, holding a silver racing helmet beside an open-wheel race car. The suit shows “WORLD SPEED” and “AURAAI NEW YORK” branding, and the name “Y. KAPOOR” appears on both the s... Photo by Lee Keiper

Finding Her Place on the Track

Yana was introduced to racing through watching NASCAR with her brother. “Our favorite driver was Kyle Busch because he had the M&M’s all over his car,” she recalled. Seeking the thrill in real life, they ventured to amusement parks to drive the go-karts. However, Yana was too small to drive alone, so she was eager to find a track where she could. Yana and Yashom’s parents wanted them to choose one sport to do together. “[Yashom] is a year and a half older, so I obviously took interest in all of his interests,” Yana noted. Her brother found an outdoor track where they could both drive, and from there, her path into racing took shape.

Two people in racing gear are beside small go-karts in a paddock area at a kart track, while a marshal in the background waves a green flag near a fence, a utility cart, and an American flag under a clear sky.

Yana’s experience getting into the motorsports world was not typical. Her family did not have a motorsports background, yet they were determined to learn the ins and outs of karting. “In the beginning, I was mainly just doing it because my brother did it.” At only 8 years old, Yana viewed karting as more of a fun hobby. She would compete in the smaller races at their local track in Indiana, while her brother participated in the bigger series. She even joked that at first, she would never really finish a race because her dad did not know how to put the chain on the kart correctly.

When Yana was 12 years old, her family moved to California. It was around this time that racing became more serious. Yana competed in larger series and quickly built up her skillset. However, it was not always easy for her. She was often the only girl out on the track, and she was, surprisingly, getting into racing at an older age than most. Yana reflects that building confidence and finding motivation on the track took time as she had to learn to feel more comfortable in competitive racing. With the support of her family and her own determination, she began to build self-assurance and eventually saw better results out on the track.

Yana recalls that her favorite memory growing up was racing alongside Yashom. At first, it felt like competition, but as they got older, Yana enjoyed the push it gave her and noted that he was her biggest supporter on the track.

Three people pose around the nose and front wing of an open-wheel race car inside a workshop or garage, with other car parts and equipment visible in the background. Photo by Lee Keiper

Racing Forward

As the racing became more demanding, so did high school. Originally, Yana would compete in races three weekends out of the month and practice on the fourth. Yana let me know that most people are homeschooled to accommodate the hectic schedule, but for her, going to school remained a priority and “we made it work because it was really fun.” Eventually, she went down to only racing two weekends to help maintain the balance.

Last year, I got to watch Yana compete in one of her races. It was my first time watching a kart race. Yana was one of only a few girls competing, and she ended with amazing results. On the track, it was evident that Yana was in her element, and as she sped by, she exuded confidence. Her entire body moved with the kart as she shifted her weight throughout the track. I asked her about her technique, and she replied, “It’s just natural.” When she focuses too much on what she is “meant” to be doing, that is when she notices she doesn’t perform her best. She says, “In races where I do really well, my mind is oddly quiet.”

A go-kart driver rounds a paved track marked with orange cones, with a few other karts visible farther back against a dry, open landscape and distant hills under a clear blue sky.

During her karting days, WSM, a program at the Sonoma Raceway that helps develop racing drivers, saw Yana compete and offered her some test sessions. She had great times and decided to do a karting season with them, which led to many exciting opportunities. In 2024, Yana competed in an international series, Champions of the Future Academy Program, for a chance to secure a test date with the F1 Academy—an all-female program that seeks to develop young drivers for Formula 1. Although her results were great, she was competing among top drivers and was not offered the spot. After this, she persevered and attended the F1 Academy’s “Discover Your Drive” workshop in Abu Dhabi, where she met F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff.

After many great moments in karting, Yana decided to transition to F4 cars to advance her skills! Currently, Yana is competing in the 2026 Formula Pro USA F4 Championships. She is working tirelessly toward the goal of securing a seat in the 2027 F1 Academy. Ever since she worked with Susie Wolff in the workshop, she has had her mind set on making it in the program.

A smiling woman sits in the cockpit of a red, black, and white open-wheel race car, with the steering wheel mounted in front of her and a building interior blurred in the background. Photo by Lee Keiper

At the same time, Yana wanted to advance in her schooling. This past school year, Yana chose to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she is getting her degree in Material Science and Engineering + Data Science. Yana has always been interested in the engineering side of racing as well as product innovation: “What is the problem and how can I fix it or make it better?” Yana chose to go to college to broaden her opportunities in life and potentially her motorsports career. With her future degree and expertise, she would have the option to enter the engineering path within the sport. Yana mentions that she has also started designing some products for racing already.

Yana details that initially, it was difficult to balance school and racing, especially since they were in two different states. While at school, she focuses on her nutrition and exercise. On the weekends, she flies to California to compete in races. I recently spoke to her mom, and it was obvious how proud of Yana she was, being so young and balancing two all-consuming experiences—college and a sport that each have their own homework. Her mother told me that her family had told Yana it was okay to slow down or take a break, but she remained determined to do it all.

Only the Beginning

Securing a seat in the F1 Academy would mean that Yana would continue racing, but it would also expand her career to new heights. Yana has always been clear that supporting other girls in the sport is something of the utmost importance to her. Being higher up in the racing world would give her a platform to get not only her voice out there but also the voices of other young girls. Throughout her entire experience, Yana has always known that she wants to do something more, something big.

Yana created a website called Her Racing Journey, where she aims to provide a space for women’s stories. I found Yana’s mindset incredibly inspiring and intriguing because from the beginning, it has never been just about herself. She, of course, has her own dreams that she is determined to accomplish, but through those dreams she wants to help others achieve their own.

Yana acknowledges that although the sport is male dominated, it is overall pretty fair: “It’s just a driver and their car.” As the sport continues to evolve with the modern times and create more opportunities for women, she hopes to be an advocate for other girls to feel comfortable joining the sport and have those already in it to feel more seen. Currently, you can head to her website to learn more about the legendary women in racing.

A close-up shows a helmeted driver seated in a red open-wheel race car, with the name “Y. Kapoor” and Indian and American flags printed on the halo above. Photo by Lee Keiper

I want to recognize Yana as an LPC Star Driver because she truly embodies the principles of Le Pit Club. Though she is only at the beginning of her journey, Yana is already incredibly motivated to achieve greatness for herself while inspiring and uplifting others throughout the process. Le Pit Club will also be sponsoring Yana through her racing endeavors! I guarantee there are only more great things to come for her in the future. Follow along with Yana’s journey at Kapoor Racing.

Back to blog